ALUMINUM TRICHLORIDE
Chlorine can combine with aluminum. Aluminum has three extra electrons and will easily let the Chlorine atoms use them. They make the formula AlCl3, also known as Aluminum trichloride. Each of the Chlorine atoms gets an electron to fill its shell, and the Aluminum loses three, giving it a filled shell too (remember, Aluminum has three extra electrons). The name trichloride means three Chlorine atoms are involved. Tri meaning 3, and there are three electrons, getting the name TRIchloride.
SODIUM CHLORIDE
This is Sodium chloride, also known as table salt. As you know, the formula for salt is NaCl. One sodium atom gives it's electron to one chlorine atom. Chlorine then has the eight electrons in its outer shell to make it "happy". Sodium is "happy" because it has now given up its one extra electron.
Chlorine can combine with aluminum. Aluminum has three extra electrons and will easily let the Chlorine atoms use them. They make the formula AlCl3, also known as Aluminum trichloride. Each of the Chlorine atoms gets an electron to fill its shell, and the Aluminum loses three, giving it a filled shell too (remember, Aluminum has three extra electrons). The name trichloride means three Chlorine atoms are involved. Tri meaning 3, and there are three electrons, getting the name TRIchloride.
SODIUM CHLORIDE
This is Sodium chloride, also known as table salt. As you know, the formula for salt is NaCl. One sodium atom gives it's electron to one chlorine atom. Chlorine then has the eight electrons in its outer shell to make it "happy". Sodium is "happy" because it has now given up its one extra electron.
(chem4kids)